Workstand



April 22, 1952 w. E. MCDONALD 2,593,588

WORKSTAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7, 1945 April 22, 1952 w. E. McDoNA 2,593,588

A ril 22, 1952 w. 5 MCDONALD WORKSTAND Filed Sept. 7, 1945 3 shefS- -sheet 3 INVENTOR.

liTTORNEY Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WORKSTAND William E. McDonald, Salt Lake City, Utah Application September 7,1945, Serial N 615,061

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

8 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a stand for use in conjunction with a gravity or power-driven roller conveyor, for performance of work on an object placed on the conveyor without removing it therefrom, such as nailing or banding a box placed on the conveyor.

An object of my invention is a conveyer section which enables the operator to lift the load out of contact with the moving conveyor rollers, in order to perform work thereon.

Another object of my invention is to provide reliable support for the load while out of contact with the conveyer rollers.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of guides for a strapping wire or band, as an integral part of the section.

Another object of the present invention is a load-lifting device adapted for association with a conveyer, enabling the operator to perform work on an object, such as a box, on the conveyer line, without having to remove it therefrom.

Yet another object of my invention is a device for lifting a load above the conveying surface of belt-driven rollers, without interfering with the rotating belt.

A further object of my invention is a conveyor section, capable of carrying out the foregoing objects, which can be cheaply and sturdily constructed, and easily installed as an integral part of a gravity or power-driven conveyer line.

A conveyer section according to my invention consists of a section of belt-driven rollers, a vertically movable frame straddling the section, a number of transverse load-supporting boards positioned in the interstices between the rollers, and supported by the movable frame, and treadleactuated means for vertically lifting the movable frame, thereby raising the load-supporting surfaces above the rollers. Two arcuate channelshaped guides for wire or strap banding, in place of two of the transverse boards, curve outwardly and upwardly from the conveyer section.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a banding stand in a conveyor section in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the conveyor section shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is an end view corresponding to Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view along lines 5-5 in Figure 3.

Figure 6 illustrates diagrammatically a box supported above and out of contact with the conveyer rollers, for the performance of banding operations.

Figure 7 shows diagrammatically a box illus- 1 trated in Figure 6, lowered on the conveyor rollers for further transportation after completion of the banding;

In the drawings, H is the main conveyer, which may be of the gravity or power-driven roller or of the chute type. 12 is the fixed frame of the special conveyer section preferably made of L- beams, and carrying a plurality of load-conveying rollers I3, and is substantially of the same width as the main conveyer line with which it is to be used. The length of frame i2 is determined in accordance with the size of the boxes or other loads which are to be worked on. A second frame M, preferably of inverted L-beams, straddles frame 12, and a number of transverse boards 15 are mounted on frame It; the transverse boards !5 are spaced from and disposed between rollers I3. Frame I4 is movably supported by four legs l6 which, in the embodiment illustrated, pass through holes in horizontal flanges in frame l2. (See Fig. 5.) The lowermost portions of legs I6 consist of toggles H, H pivotally supported on the ground. Two rockers l8, l8 are each connected to a pair of toggles l1, IT by a pair of links l9, l9, each link joining an outer end of rocker 18 (or l8) to the joint of toggle H or ll, respectively. Rockers I8 and I8 are fast on horizontal shaft 20, which rests in bearings 2|, 2|. Two operating levers 22, 22' extend tangentially from shaft 20 and are fast thereon. The two levers 22, 22' are joined by a treadle bar 23. A helical spring 24 is fastened at one end to the outer end of lever 22, and at its other end is fastened to frame I2; correspondingly a spring 24' is fastened to the outer end of lever 22' and to frame l2.

Because of the normally raised position of levers 22, 22' by means of springs 24, 24', the rockers EB, l8 and links l9, l9 push toggle links l1, l1, into an almost straight position, whereby legs 16 and frame M are elevated and the load-supporting transverse boards I5 are raised above the conveyor surface of rollers I3; this is illustrated in solid lines in Figure 4.

An endless belt 25 is in contact with the lower surface of rollers ii for the purpose of actuating them; belt 25 is power-driven, and is tensioned by auxiliary rollers 26.

Two of the transverse boards I are substituted for by guides 21, 21' for a metal wire or a strap, designated W in Figures 6 and '7, for application to a box designated B in Figures 6 and 7. The guides 21, 21' are channel pieces whose upper edges terminate on the same level as the upper surfaces of transverse load-supporting boards I5. Guides 21, 21' extend outwardly beyond frame I4 and curve upwardly, so that the operator may insert a wire or strap from a coil (not shown) into the guide and bring it forward under the box and upward to complete the strapping operation.

The conveyer section is joined 'to the main conveyer line II by bolting frame I2 thereto at ,28.

In operation the operator depresses treadle 23 when he sees box B approaching,- thereby buckling the toggles I'l, I1 and lowering legs-li and frame I4. This causes transverse boards I5 and the horizontal portion of guides 21, 21. to descend below the load-conveying surface of rollers I3 as shown in broken lines in Figured. The downward vertical movement of boards I5- is limited by their coming to reston frame I2. When box B has arrived in its proper position above frame I4 and boards I5, the operator releases treadle 23. Springs 24, 24 now pull up, levers 22, 22', thereby rotating the shaft .29 several degrees, which causes rockers 5 I8, I8'-to straighten toggles I'I, Il' in synchronism, and to .push up legs I6 and frame I4 so as to lift boards I 5 and box B above and out of contactwith rollers I3. Box B is now supported in a-stationary position, while the operator performs the nailing or banding operation, the latter with the'help' of' guides 21, 21. After completion of the operation; the operator again depresses treadle 23, thereby lowering box B into contact with the rotating rollers I3, which carry box B from the banding stand and permit it to proceed on the main conveyer line. The stand is now ready for the arrival of a new box. U

While I have in the foregoing described the construction and operation of a preferred eme bodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to any specific details of construction and operation set forth therein, inasmuch as modifications within the principles and spirit of my invention will readily occur to the expert; I desire to claim my invention broadly and to'be limited only'by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a conveyer of the type comprising a frame, rollers carried by said frame and a pow er-driven endless belt in frictional engagement with the lower surfaces of said rollers: a stand straddling said frame and comprising vertically movable non-rotating load-supports parallel to said rollers between and spaced from said rollers for lifting a load above and out o'fcontact with the conveying surfaces of said rollers, vertical reciprocatory means laterally spaced from' said rollers and belt for vertically moving said load-supports, said means being operableindependently of and without affecting the movement of said rollers and operation of saidbe'lt, and. means affixed to said frame for positively urging said stand upwardly relative to said frame; whereby a load conveyed by said rollers to a position above said stand may be lifted by said stand above and out of-contact with said rollers. and whereby said load-supports may be retracted. within the spaces between adjacent rollers.

2. In a conveyer 'ofthetype' comprising a" frame, rollers carried by said frame and a power-driven endless belt in frictional engagement with the lower surfaces of said rollers: a stand straddling said frame and comprising vertically movable non-rotating load-supports parallel to said rollers between and spaced from said rollers for lifting a load above and out of contact with the conveying surfaces of said rollers, toggle legs laterally spaced from said belt for vertically moving said rollers and load-supports, said toggle legs supporting said load-supports and being operable independently of and without affecting the movement of said rollers and operation of said belt and means for selectively straightening and buckling said toggle legs, and means aflixed to said frame for positively urging said stand upwardly relative to said frame; whereby a load conveyed by said rollers to a position above said stand may be lifted by said stand above and out of contact with said rollers, and whereby said load-supports may be retracted within the spaces between adjacent rollers.

3. In a conveyer of the type comprising a frame, rollers carried by said frame and a power-driven endless belt in frictional engagement with the lower surfaces of said rollers: a stand straddling said frame and comprising vertically movable non-rotating load supports parallel to said rollers between and spaced from said rollers for lifting a load above and out of contact with the conveying surfaces of said rollers, at least one of said non-rotating load supports comprising a channel-shaped upwardly curving guide for a band or wire to be applied to the load, vertical reciprocatory means laterally spaced from said rollers and belt for vertically moving said load supports, said means being operable independently of and without affecting the movement of said rollers and operation of said belt, and means affixed to said frame for postively urging said stand upwardly relative to said frame;

whereby a load conveyed by said rollers to a pos-i-' tion above said stand may be lifted by said stand above and out of contact with said rollers, and' whereby said load-supports may be retracted within the spaces between adjacent rollers.

4. In a conveyer of the type comprising a frame, rollers carried by said frame and a power-driven endless belt in frictional engagement with the lower surfaces of said rollers: a stand straddling said frame and comprising vertically movable non-rotating load supports parallel to said rollers between and spaced from saidrollersfor lifting a load above and out of contact with the conveying surfaces of said rollers, 'at least one of said non-rotating load supports comprising a channel-shaped upwardly curving guide for a band or wire to be applied to the load, toggle legs laterally spaced from said rollers and belt for vertically moving said load supports, said to gle legs being operable independently of and without affecting the movement of said rollers and operation of said belt, means for selectively frame of greater width than said first frame and including a pair of spaced beams parallel to the beams of said first frame, said load-supporting frame being vertically movable, means urging said load-supporting frame upwardly relative to said first-named frame, said means including spring means afiixed to said first-named frame, vertically movable means supporting said load-supporting frame, and means for operating said vertically movable means; whereby a load conveyed by said rollers to a position above said load-supporting frame may belifted above and out of contact with said rollers, and whereby said load-supporting frame may be lowered between said rollers and below the load-conveying, surface of said rollers for advancement of said load by said rollers.

6. A conveyer section comprising a frame including a pair of spaced beams, load-conveying rollers carried by said frame, a load-supporting frame of greater width than said first frame and including a pair of spaced beams parallel to the beams of said first frame, said load-supporting frame being vertically movable, means urging said load-supporting frame upwardly relative to said first-named frame, said means including spring means affixed to said first-named frame, toggle legs supporting said load-supporting frame, a rocker, means connecting said rocker and said toggle legs, and a lever operating said rocker; whereby a load conveyed by said rollers to a position above said load-supporting frame may be lifted above and out of contact with said rollers, and whereby said load-supporting frame may be lowered between said roll ers and below the load-conveying surface of said rollers for advancement of said load by said rollers.

7. In a conveyer, a frame, load-conveying rollers carried by said frame, a power-driven endless belt in frictional engagement with the lower surfaces of said rollers, a second frame straddling said first frame, said second frame being vertically movable, load-supporting means mounted on said second frame, said load-supporting means being substantially parallel to said rollers, at least one of said load-supporting means comprising a channel-shaped upwardly curving guide for a band or wire to be applied to the load, spring means urging said load-supporting means to a position above said rollers, and length-adjustable means spaced from said belt supporting said second frame and adapted to selectively depress said load-supporting means below the load-conveying surfaces of said rollers and supporting said load-supporting means in a position above the load-conveying surfaces of said rollers.

8. In a conveyer, a frame, load-conveying rollers carried by said frame, a power-driven endless belt in frictional engagement with the lower surfaces of said rollers, a second frame straddling said first frame, said second frame being vertically movable, load-supporting means mounted on said second frame, said load-supporting means being substantially parallel to said rollers, at least one of said load-supporting means comprising a channel-shaped upwardly curving guide for a band or wire to be applied to the load, spring means urging said load-supporting means to a position above said rollers, two pairs of toggle legs spaced from said belt supporting said second frame and adapted to selectively depress said load-supporting means below the loadconveying surfaces of said rollers and supporting said load-supporting means in a position above the load-conveying surfaces of said rollers, two rockers, link means connecting each of said rockers with a pair of said toggle legs, an operating lever on each of said rockers, and a bar connecting said levers.

WILLIAM E. MCDONALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

